A Gift of Memories through a Photoshoot

They are not just another cancer story

In the home Lifestyle Photography -
Black and White Collection

   I walked into John and Wendy's home to find 2 sweet kids playing on a huge sectional couch. Wendy had their home spotless and decorated with things that don't scream "department store" but "this is who my family is."

   My local hospital had gotten us in touch... I have a kind lady on the inside that will pass my info onto cancer patients who she feels as though could use a photoshoot as a way to express themselves, or preserve a moment and then we gift them with that- the shoot, the images, all of it. John was the second gentleman this year she's gotten me in contact with who had terminal cancer.

   His wife Wendy was willing to sneak away from home for an hour of so for a good cup of coffee and to tell me about who they are as a family and how she imagined them being captured for one of the last times. Wendy used to work at The Time Herald so she's no stranger to photography. I was instantly excited for her to have a chance to be in front of the camera with her family. And her requests were simple- capture us doing every day things we love to do together. The tradition that was top on her list was getting John tucking the kids into bed, like he always does- immortalizing those moments that are pure and so simple.

   The day of I took a back seat as this family of 4 bonded over board games, baking cookies, or simply cuddling on the couch together.

   We ended the shoot with John tucking the kids into bed. At this moment, with the camera protecting me, creating a barrier between real life and photography, it sunk in that someday soon these kids wouldn't have their Dad there and I had to remind myself- this isn't your time to break down, Autumn. You are here to do a job for this family, you have a gift you want to give them and you need to make yourself numb right now, and so I did.  

   I watched as Wendy had this carefree way of making this serious man in front of the camera laugh so easily and lower his guard as they talked about their first date. I saw how much he enjoyed talking dolls with his daughter and listening to his son read. Surrounding them were picture books of their own photographs showing family vacations and fun times. That home was filled with air clouded with love.

   Less than two weeks later John unexpectedly passed away, but his memory surely lives on, strongly, as the husband who supported his wife in her dreams, and the Dad who smelled stinky toes and flexed his Superman muscles.   

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Check out our Full Family Gallery!

Check out all the love in The Werner Families Photoshoot!

To see another Memorable Shoot we gifted check out Mark's Blog!

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A Modern Engagement Session in Port Huron, MI

Celebrating the future Mr. and Mrs.
with a photoshoot

A young couple, their pup, and 1 hidden trail

   Bridget and I had been planning the visual journey we would take for her wedding for quite a few months before I ever got to meet Russell. Little did I know they also had a secret child they didn't tell me about that I would be meeting the day of their engagement shoot - Zelda! 
   Geometric shapes was the theme for their wedding, but they also love the outdoors, so I took them to the Blue Water River Walk in Downtown Port Huron. It was the perfect mix of both. The tunnel which created some stunning angles and shapes with the highlights and shadows, and then the nature areas that are fairly new to the area.
   We basically just went on a casual walk, stopping and grabbing fun shots when we saw something that caught our eye. When I say the process is natural and fun, I mean it, so stop being so nervous, guys!
   I LOVE couples that I don't have to direct, that I don't have to explain what it looks like to like each other. Sure... I can help you a little but I can't MAKE you be ridiculously adorable with each other if you just aren't, and Russell and Bridget were pretty stinkin' cute with each other so that worked out nicely! And Zelda, oh my goodness, what a good girl!
   Since we were photographing their wedding (one of the last two for this year, and I'm currently not booking more- heads up!) Bridget was unsure about getting engagement photos as well, but I told her, you're going to be happy that you have beautiful portraits of the two of you together, natural, the way you are every day, not in fancy wedding attire. I am SO glad they did this! Their Wedding portraits are gorgeous too (hopefully you guys will see those soon!) but these show off their personality and tell their story on an every day level, which I love.
   So now, let's go on a visual journey of what they looked like right before they said I Do!

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Check out our Full Love Gallery!

For another adorable couple in Downtown Port Huron, check out Corey & Erica's Engagement Session!

If you like this fun outdoor feel, check out Chris & Becca's Engagement Photoshoot!

The Gift of Celebrating Life

This is more than a cancer story

This is the story of one man's life,
his passions, his wife, and 1 photoshoot to capture it.

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Often I write to myself when I don’t know what else to do with my emotions.
Here’s an entry I wrote a few days before I photographed Mark and Jodi
that I never intended to share with you:

I barely even know you and I’m crying for you.
I barely even know you and my heart hurts for you.
I barely even know you and I’m pissed off for you.

And I have to photograph you on Monday.

I remember thinking when they asked to give me a tour of the new Cancer Center in Port Huron… “I don’t want to see your cancer center. I do not want to see your money pit.”

I walked the halls with women I had just met who showed me the plush leather chairs sick and dying women, children, and men would sit in to get chemo, the big windows to let in natural light, the art on the walls, everything that was supposed to make everything that was happening in this terrifying building ok.

I realize now I walked into that building with the wrong eyes.

It’s not the caretakers IN the building that I should be mad at. It’s the leaders of the world that allow things to happen that cause cancer rates to be out of control, the money hungry pigs that won’t allow us to get our hands on that cure for cancer, and the sick idiots who, even if you do survive, think it’s ok to deny you health insurance in the future, so you remain hopeless.

That’s the people and the world I don’t understand.

But the kind, caring, soft spoken people I met in that building, no, I am sorry, I was wrong, and I am so thankful to have taken that tour. You are the angels of the world making the best environment you can for people in the worst situations of their life. You care. You fight. I thank you.

All I wanted to do was make a difference. I wanted to help people express themselves during a hard time, preserve a memory and a soul. I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking past that, because let’s be honest, past that wasn’t fun. Past that was reality, and like most of us, I can hate reality. I tried to keep a work mindset so I wouldn’t be emotionally overtaken. I had a job I wanted to do.

My goal was to take someone for a day and allow them to get away from reality, and in doing so, give them a beautiful experience and beautiful portraits. It was going to be the luck of the draw… we would choose out of a hat who got to do a session with me, as to not be overwhelmed by photographing EVERYONE who may have wanted the experience. As much as I want to give that to everyone I am only one person, and again, reality… I knew I couldn’t take that all on, so we decided on booking 3-4 sessions each year.

One of the ladies in the cancer center mentioned your names and also mentioned the word terminal.

Terminal. That’s such an ugly word.

I kept the idea quiet, didn’t allow anyone to contact me about a session and got a hold of the girls at the office and said, “The couple you mentioned, I want to photograph them.”

Mark, I will photograph you on Monday, standing strong, surrounded by the things that make you you. I really, really hope to do you justice.

Mark is sitting in my garage in his camo, the scar running across his head telling a dark story but we cover it with a hat as we sit among the things he was most passionate about... numerous guns, fishing poles, snow shoes, bows, trapping equipment, and wearing his normal dirty boots and sweatshirt he would wear out. We had hauled the outside in for him because we were not only afraid of the rain but at this point he was getting around mostly by wheelchair or a few feet with a cane. I'm so proud of him, how many times he got up and down out of that chair to hold and kiss his bride of nearly 25 years at the park, never complaining, and how later he would stand tall, arms crossed, strong, surrounded by his life's work and trophies. The next time I revisted that set Mark had already passed, and tearing it down was, well, ironic.

We photographed Mark on a Monday night after his wife called me, frantic that we were running out of time. He went into the hospital the following Wednesday, and passed Saturday.

So now Jodi, I speak to you. 

I cry while I write this. You are such a strong, fun, bad ass woman. I’m so thankful to have met you, even if it was through this process. Stay bold and beautiful you courageous and caring woman, and stop by any time. Thank you for trusting me and allowing me to be a part of your lives, and allowing me to be on your team. I didn't do this to gain anything, I wanted to gift something, but I've gotten so much from this experience, so thank you.

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Check out Jen's Story for another empowering cancer story

London, Ontario Maternity Photo-Shoot

Family Session at Springbank Park in London

Mommy and Me, Daddy and I, Maternity, Family,
and Big Brother Photoshoot all in 1!

   11 years old and I knew no one where I had just moved to, except for the girl who rode her bike through my neighborhood. It seemed like every summer after that we would accidentally meet up and ride through the neighborhood at least once together.
   15 years old and we were at the beach every single day that summer. Almost every night we would have a sleep over. My bike ride friend had quickly became my best friend, and we went through all the typical growing up stuff together- boys, crappy boys, dances, bad dancing, shopping, the first time house party, driving, and laughing way into the night. She had this outer tough shell that was hilariously funny because when you actually knew her she would laugh at anything and was that friend you could count on, for years.
   16 years later and that same girl is now an amazing, caring mother of (soon to be) 2 kids and has a kind man by her side to take the adventure with. She’s one of those cool moms I love- she takes it seriously, but she knows life can’t be that serious, which is turning her son (and I’m sure her daughter too) into the smartest, most caring, truly unique little individual.
   She hopped the border when she got older and moved to Canada, so that gives me the perfect excuse to explore new areas when we go visit her! This time she took us to Springbank Park, which is huge, this is only a little slice of it, but what’s special about it is the last shot of our night was in the same exact spot where we shot the last shot of the night at their FIRST maternity session.

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See how effortless it is to just live in the moment with your family while ajbc photography photographs your life, beautifully and naturally.

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Check Out Our Full Family Gallery!

Want to see more of this little guy? Check out Maasai's adorable birthday shoot!

If you like this fun & playful shoot check out the Burnette's family shoot!